Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
  • B62J1/00—Saddles or other seats for cycles; Arrangement thereof; Component parts
  • B62J1/02—Saddles resiliently mounted on the frame; Equipment therefor, e.g. springs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
  • B62J1/00—Saddles or other seats for cycles; Arrangement thereof; Component parts
  • B62J1/18—Covers for saddles or other seats; Paddings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
  • B62M1/00—Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles
  • B62M1/18—Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles by movement of rider's saddle
  • B62M1/20—Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles by movement of rider's saddle with additional rider propulsion means

Definitions

• This invention relates to cycies, and in particular, to cycles in which rotation of the drive wheel can be effected by the application of force alternately to pedals and to the saddle.
• My earlier bicycle is not suitable for use in exercising those muscles and joints which are exercised by using a conventional bicycle and for this reason a person interested in exercising both sets of muscles and joints would be obliged to purchase, store and maintain two different types of bicycle.
• the invention provides a cycle which is convertible between an exercise configuration in which the saddle and pedals are connected to the crank shaft out of phase with one another so that tne
• SUBSTITUTE SHEET cycle may be propelled forwardly by the application of force to the pedals and the saddle (in the manner of my earlier cycle), and a conventional configuration in whicn the saddle is connected to the cycle frame and the two pedals are connected to the crank shaft out of phase with one another so that the cycle may be cycled in the conventional manner.
• a cyclist may use the cycle in the exercise configuration to take exercise, in the conventional configuration for transport purposes, or may set off on e.g. a day trip and convert from one mode to another as and when required.
• a bicycle wnich is useful for both forms of exercise and which does not suffer from the disadvantages descrioed above ana otner disadvantages of tne prior art.
• the invention provides a cycle in wnicn rotation of the drive wneel can be effected by the application of force alternately to pedals and to the saddle, in which the saddle and tne pedals are connected to the crank snaft in a configuration such that wnen the pedal cranks and pedals are at the bottom dead centre position, the transmission between the saddle and the saddle crank is at an angle to the saddle crank sucn tnat the weight of the cyclist is applied to the saddle crank with mechanical advantage to propel the cycle in a forward direction. The likelihood of stalling when the pedals are in the bottom dead centre position is reduced.
• tne invention provides a cycle in whicn rotation of the drive wheel can be effected by the application of force alternately to pedals and to the saddle, in which the saddle and pedals are connected to the crankshaft in a configuration such that when the saddle is at the bottom dead centre position the pedal cranks and pedals are ]ust forward of the top dead centre position. The likelihood of stalling with the saddle in the bottom dead centre position is reduced.
• the invention provides a cycle in whicn rotation of the drive wheel can be effected by the application of force alternately to the pedals and to tne saddle, in which the crani.
• mecnanism includes a mechanism for limiting rotation to the forward direction only so that when a cyclist mounts the cycle and sits on the saddle near top dead centre, the cyclist is not hit on the shins by the pedals as they move up in response to the saddle moving down.
• this mechanism can be alternatively engaged or disengaged at the option of the cyclist, so that a cyclist who is very experienced at riding the cycle may disengage the mechanism allowing both rotation and counter rotation of the pedals, and may propel the cycle forwardly by pumping up and down on the saddle and on the pedals always on the same side of top and bottom dead centre without ever bringing the saddle and pedals through top or bottom dead centre, while a cyclist who is less experienced and risks being hit in the shins may leave the mechanism engaged to as to allow rotation in the forward direction.
• Figure 1 is a left hand side view of a cycle according to the invention in the exercise configuration
• Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the cycle in the conventional configuration
• Figure 3 is a right hand side view of a detail of the cycle on a larger scale showing the transmission from the saddle to the saddle crank;
• Figures 4a, 4b and 4c show a left hand side view of a detail of the cycle illustrating one example of a mechanism for allowing or preventing counter rotation of the pedals.
• the cycle comprises a rigid cycle frame 1, a front wheel 2, a rear drive wheel 3, right hand side pedal 4a and left hand side pedal 4b, a saddle 5, a crank shaft 6 and a drive transmission chain 7 which is on the right hand side of the bicycle.
• the saddle support column 8a which forms part of a rigid triangular sub-frame 8a, 8b, 8c pivoted at a pivot mounting 9 on the cycle frame 1 is connected to a link 10 which in turn is connected to the crank shaft 6.
• the pedals 4a, 4b are mounted on cranks 6a, 6b configured in phase with one another (pedal 4a and crank 6a cannot be seen in Figure 1, as they are immediately behind pedal 4b and crank 6b) and out of phase with the saddle 5.
• the cycle may be propelled forward by a pedal stroke comprising applying downward foot pressure on pedals 4a, 4b causing rotation of the crank shaft 6, chain 7 and drive wheel 3 and
• SUBSTITUTE SHEET also causing the saddle support column 8a and the saddle 5 to rise upwardly, followed by a saddle stroke comprising releasing the foot pressure so that the saddle 5 and saddle support column 8a descend under the weight of the cyclist, causing rotation of the crank shaft 6, drive transmission chain 7 and rear wheel 3, and also causing the pedals 4a, 4b to rise again. Propelling the cycle in this way including the rising and falling motion of the cyclist's body is quite strenuous and exercises many different muscles.
• left hand pe ⁇ al 4b has been reset so that it is out of phase with pedal 4a.
• the link 10 has been disconnected from the saddle support column 8a and from the fixed mounting point 11 on the rigid frame 1, and has been removed from the bicycle.
• the saddle support column 8a has then been connected directly to the fixed mounting point 11.
• attachment means which can readily be secured or released using a spanner or other simple hand tool.
• the cycle is propelled forwardly in the conventional manner.
• the cyclist may go on snort or long trips as desired, and whenever using the cycle in the exercise configuration becomes too tiring, the cyclist can quickly convert the cycle to the conventional configuration and carry on cycling in a more leisurely manner.
• the pedal crank 6a and pedal 4a are shown in the bottom dead centre position.
• the saddle crank 6c lies along an axis B, and as a result of the angle ⁇ between axis A and axis B, the weight on the saddle 5 is transmitte ⁇ with mechanical advantage, ensuring that the saddle 5 moves downwardly, and the pedals 4a, 4b continue to rotate.
• the dasned lines show the saddle 5 in tne bottom dead centre position and show the position of the pedals 4a, 4b. It will be seen that the pedals 4a, 4b are ]ust forward of the top ⁇ ead centre position (in the drawing the distance forward has been exaggerated for purposes of illustration). This arrangement allows the cyclist to apply pressure to the pedals so as to create a definite forward propulsion and reduce the risk of stalling.
• a ratchet lever 12 is pivotally moveable between a disengaged position as shown in the full lines and an engaged position as shown in the dashed lines.
• the lever 12 is retained in the appropriate position by means of a coil compression spring 13 with a loop at one end which the cyclist may place over one or other of the two anchor posts 14a, 14b provided for that purpose.
• Figures 4b and 4c show the cover 13 of the crank mechanism removed, to reveal the ratchet 16 and the engagement and disengagement of the ratchet lever 12 with the ratchet.
• the ratchet mechanism 12, 13, 14, 16 is contained in a housing 17 located at the left hand end of the crank shaft 6.
• ratchet mechanism any other desired mechanism may be used to releasably constrain pedal rotation to one direction only, for example a clutch mechanism may be used.
• the mechanism need not be releasable, instead pedal rotation is permanently constrained to one direction.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Automatic Cycles, And Cycles In General (AREA)
• Steering Devices For Bicycles And Motorcycles (AREA)
• Transmission Devices (AREA)
• Mechanical Control Devices (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
• Auxiliary Drives, Propulsion Controls, And Safety Devices (AREA)
• Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)

Priority Applications (12)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10722255

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (17)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 1992
  • 1992-09-21 GB GB9219948A patent/GB2270660B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1992-09-25 TW TW085219627U patent/TW383716U/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1993
  • 1993-09-21 EP EP93920981A patent/EP0659138B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1993-09-21 CA CA002144745A patent/CA2144745A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1993-09-21 AU AU48272/93A patent/AU684048B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1993-09-21 DE DE69312302T patent/DE69312302T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1993-09-21 CZ CZ95706A patent/CZ285020B6/cs not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1993-09-21 GE GEAP19932559A patent/GEP19991699B/en unknown
  • 1993-09-21 AT AT93920981T patent/ATE155414T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1993-09-21 JP JP6507938A patent/JPH08503906A/ja active Pending
  • 1993-09-21 EP EP96203494A patent/EP0768233B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1993-09-21 US US08/397,269 patent/US5636854A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1993-09-21 HU HU9500817A patent/HU218179B/hu not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1993-09-21 RU RU95108886A patent/RU2137656C1/ru active
  • 1993-09-21 PL PL93308139A patent/PL172053B1/pl not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1993-09-21 KR KR1019950701091A patent/KR100311944B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1993-09-21 WO PCT/GB1993/001984 patent/WO1994006673A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1993-09-21 AT AT96203494T patent/ATE192393T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1993-09-21 DE DE69328571T patent/DE69328571T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1993-09-21 BR BR9307088A patent/BR9307088A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1997
  • 1997-01-23 AU AU12312/97A patent/AU681066B2/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (4)

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